PREDATOR SNOWBLOWER MODIFICATIONS

Predator 212 snowblower swaps are being very popular. great bang for the buck. They may not perform as well has a 3-500$ snow specific engine but they do have great power & performance for the cost. They do lack in the shielding department, as they are designed to be able to run to hotter environments, here is a couple tricks to make your 212 Snow ready
1) Intake/engine cover. Install and airbox & engine cover off a Honda HS55 snowblower engine. Airboxes are easy to find search "Honda GX air box" the engine cover will be a little more difficult. Its Honda part #16401-736-000
2) Jetting: stock jetting is .028, some machines will "hunt" with this, you sometimes get away with running the machine at 1/4 choke, but larger jetting is the solution. Adjustable main jet is the best route. Or install a larger main(.032)
3) Full wrap recoil handle & Remote kill switch
4) Name brand spark plug. NGK or Autolite

[@robertknight4672]

I do like the large snowblower pull handle handle. I'm really surprised no one thought about until the 80s a lot of the Vintage engines have the smaller handle just like the Harbor Freight engine comes with.

[@papabits5721]

Your absolutely correct about icing on the governor arm and carburetor, I was cleaning up after our huge dumping of snow and it was extremely cold outside and very windy. I actually put the air filter back on to stop the carburetor from freezing up as I figured slowing down the amount of cold air would help and it did. I got the 420 cc engine. But overall it’s been a complete success. Thanks for all your help.

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

using the "honda style" intake and linkage cover has solved the problem by about 90%, i had one super cold blown powder snow storm where the machine linkages iced up again. I have some high temp poly tarp material that i might make an "extreme conditions" cover for the motor in situations like that. But for the most part the engine has been flawless

[@shadetree6981]

The D handle over the knuckle buster is a no brainer! I do like the airbox idea... I guess you could go with an iridium spark plug, but honestly idk if these engines eat up plugs at all. I can't say any of my old Tec's do. 20 some year old plugs still fire good.

[@bto52_]

I have a Arens similar to those probably little older but its a dual output shaft. Any tricks how to modify to single shaft like the predators are or even a B&S???. I dont see any dual shafts on new motors anymore

[@webchez69]

This guy's voice has to be Jesse Ventura.

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

Nice, have you tried the hemi version Predator yet, made by loncin? Its the one with the aluminum valve cover. I found that one to be a little bit more of a higher performer than these Rato non Hemi's. Also the air box design and air filter base areca little better and cover a little bit more of the carburetor. Considering Loncin is the supplier of engines for Toro snowblowers now, we are looking in to seeing if we can get those shields to retrofit to the Loncin Predator, but I have to get my hands on one first to try the parts. Anyway I like the Idea, my only suggestion to make this entire system work even better, is to come up with a way to cover part of that muffler along with the air box and linkages and divert the hot air from the muffler towards the air box and linkages, like the Tecumseh's, if you look on those the bottom part of the muffler is down below the heater cover by the carb and linkages, same theory. It will keep warm air in those areas and stop freezing immediately. One method would be to use one of those mufflers from the Loncin winter engine which is longer and gets closer to the airbox and than use a shield, the hot air kept under that shield will not only guard but keep the temps up high enough where any snow or ice will melt as soon as it hits the shield. Those style mufflers are just as quiet. I will send you a photo of one from an engine I have laying around. Its a direct bolt on. I've shown you a few of the Toros and other chinese engines and how they all have basically the same type heater cover shield. Since these Predators are at the core those same engines undressed theirs gotta be a way to retrofit that stuff on. I'll let ya know what I find out once I get to trying it. The carb upgrade is great. 👍 -For instance, what I'm thinking is all the shields on this 208cc engine in this video. The engine itself is basically the same, so these shields and covers should retro fit with careful planning, as well as many of the other similar engines like it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGSsfWWtbL16oMk

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

Ive always wanted a Hemi, but i have never once even seen one at a local HF. Not sure what it is a hear if you go online and order them you can search for a certain engine model code and get them from time to time, but here in the Northeast ive never seen one on the shelves, and i look all the time

[@steverossvoiceover]

I recently watched a review by a guy who has used both the non-hemi and hemi Predators. He compared two brand new units side be side and in addition to the fact that the hemi option looked VERY cheaped out compared to the other one, he mentioned that he has had numerous hemis fail over the years while the non-hemi version has never failed him. I certainly would've expected the hemi version the be the preferred choice, but his review prompted me to choose the non-hemi for this conversion (there were several hemi versions and only one non-hemi in my Harbor Freight store). I'm much more interested in long term reliability to go with the classic Ariens it's going on to than slightly more power that the hemi might offer... Regarding mods for the cold weather, I imagine it can't be too hard to take some sheet metal and create a "hot box" that not only protects the linkages but also forces the carb to draw warmer air from around the muffler area. Even if one is not a master fabricator I bet a few sheet metal panels pop riveted together into a basic box would do the trick. Most likely one could scavenge some of the sheet metal off of the old Tecumseh engine to help get that box started! ;-)

[@RunMondays]

@sugarloafgee- good information, When you made the air box modification what did you use to vent the gas tank?

[@l337pwnage]

In the past, Autolite wasn't considered a particularly good brand, but that doesn't mean they didn't come out with a winning product at some point. I always kind of put them in the same category as Fram. However, I have known a few people who swore by NGK, especially in Japanese engines.

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

The autolite plug he's talking about is the one with 4 probes at the bottom as the electode instead of a standard plug with a single bend. The theory behind using one of those plugs is it takes up a little more space inside the combustion chamber adding a very small amount of compression, psi. I've added one to a clone on my minibike and didn't notice any difference, but as you ad more performance mods to the engine it all starts to add up.

[@l337pwnage]

@@Mr_Tecumseh I think I remember that plug design, if it's what I think it is, it's been around a while. I haven't read any performance information on it, however. Usually when they advertise designs like that, their claims typically revolve around spark intensity and things like that. With standard plugs, performance geeks will often "index" them, obviously you wouldn't have to do that with the 4 prong design.

[@shadetree6981]

People around here seem to hate NGK, but I think that's mostly in the automobile world. I personally don't think I'd use anything else for small engines except classic Champion.

[@l337pwnage]

@@shadetree6981 Ya, I have not had problems with Champions in small engines either. I think Champion got a bad rep way back when they "consolidated" a bunch of plugs to save production costs. That meant that not all plugs were the correct design for all vehicle engines anymore, but were a compromised design in some. I dunno how things are now, however. I suspect, with HEI ignitions in everything, that plugs are less important because the ignition systems put out so much power now. I also remember guys back in the day who were "Japanese plugs for Japanese engines, and American plugs for American engines." lol

[@nullfox955]

I just put a Predator 301cc on a 28" MTD snowblower. It had plenty of power and I even put a bigger pulley on the auger becuse it had a 277cc on it originally. My only problem was the govorner linkages got stuck from the snow just like you.

[@ToyotaPete]

👍 Great info. Thanks

[@michaelt1349]

Great video! I gave a thumbs up. Do you have a link as to where we can get that adjustable main jet??? Thanks!

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

Sadly the guy that used to make them isn't anymore...I would go up one size on the main jet

[@stevepasternak6352]

I have added a predator engine to my 724. Airens like to somehow add a primer bulb to my carburetor for cold starts .

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

It can be done, however I find the engine always starts no problem even on the coldest days

[@papabits5721]

You certainly can’t go wrong, the older L heads and flat heads are to old and finicky and am tired of fixing them.

[@snoopysrc]

more videos please i wanted to see the driveway get cleared

[@smith6098]

@sugarloafgee on the engine with the Honda air box, it looks like you have some sort of black tape or shroud over the linkages. Is it just duct tape or something more substantial? Thanks.

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

All it is is a strip of Gorilla Tape to seal the gap between the Throttle cover and the gas tank, wasnt 100% needed but i said what the heck

[@jlaudio1979]

Do you think the Predator 8HP 301cc is overkill for a 24” wide blower?

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

Yeahhh...the 212's do just fine in a 24. Be a much easier swap. With the 301 you will have to come up with your own pullies and belts, etc

[@channel00001]

Hello I have an older snowking simplicity with a 10hp tecumseh which last season almost threw the piston rod out of the case. Do you think the 212cc is enough power for this? Or should I go with the 301cc? which is closer in hp to the original tecumseh. The 212 is on sale for 119$ the 301cc is 299$

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

212cc should be just fine

[@bigkidband5731]

I’m about to swap out a blown engine on my 12 year old Ariens 28” deluxe. Anyone here do a similar swap on this model? Just wondering if there are going to be pulley alignment issues.

[@olheghtt]

Did a search for "Honda GX air box" , they all have numbers after eg. 160, 200. What air box is that one?

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

Gx160 or 200 both the same. This one will work www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-GX160-GX200-5-5-6-5HP-Air-Box-and-Air-Filter-Gasoline-Engines-Water-Pumps-/360574328562?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

[@amosm8432]

Now how do you get the bolts to line up

[@CharlieRice-eq5hb]

Do you delete the air cleaner on your swap?

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

You never want an air filter on a snowblower

[@andyclifton2006]

Will the air box and engine cover work in the Predaror 224cc?

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

It should, haven't tried it yet though

[@russellstephan6844]

Can't the existing Predator air box take an air box filter vent for better breathing? They're just little circular plugs using standard filter foam which go in holes you put in the air box. My ST824 lost its engine today. I was running it a bit too fast for too long. Looking to do the 8HP version of the Predator. If I jump on it now, it won't snow again for the season. If I don't, we'll get buried in the stuff.

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

The stock intake WILL work. I have another Predator swapped Ariens thats bone stock out of the crate. But in the super cold blower nasty snow the Honda style airbox makes a difference. Used both machines today, the 212 gets shit done

[@HomieG-fl9wk]

Durability. Can you speak on that after 2 years of posting this video?

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

Holding up perfect. Great engines I stand by them